Judicial
Broward County, Florida - Fiscal Year 2015 Adopted Operating Budget 3–1 Department
Judicial
GENERAL FUND
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Percent Change 2014-15
Positions FY14
Budget BudgetFY15
Circuit/County Court $176,744 $226,630 $234,010 3% 1 1
Legal Aid $463,200 $753,400 $753,400 0% — —
Public Defender $157,566 $169,760 $158,400 (7)% — —
State Attorney $330,734 $410,640 $405,780 (1)% — —
Subtotal $1,128,244 $1,560,430 $1,551,590 (1)% 1 1
OTHER FUNDS
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Percent Change 2014-15
Positions FY14
Budget BudgetFY15
Court Cost Fund $1,861,086 $3,283,000 $2,728,500 (17)% 17 17
Judicial Technology Fee Fund $5,158,299 $6,163,010 $4,752,930 (23)% 23 21
Teen Court Fee Fund $392,644 $1,329,670 $1,486,050 12% 11 11
Law Library $20,111 $747,890 $842,250 13% — —
Subtotal $7,432,140 $11,523,570 $9,809,730 (15)% 51 49
Judicial Circuit/County Court
Division
Circuit/County Court
SECTION SUMMARY
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Court Programs $84,590 $93,810 $99,330
Judiciary $92,154 $132,820 $134,680
Total $176,744 $226,630 $234,010
REVENUES
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Charges For Services $86,943 $52,400 $59,980
Total $86,943 $52,400 $59,980
APPROPRIATIONS
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Personal Services $60,646 $63,700 $63,690
Operating Expenses $116,098 $162,930 $170,320
Total $176,744 $226,630 $234,010
Total Positions 1 1 1
BUDGET VARIANCES
7,380 Normal Increases/Decreases
(10) Personal Services
7,390 Operating Expense
Judicial Circuit/County Court
Broward County, Florida - Fiscal Year 2015 Adopted Operating Budget 3–3
Section
Court Programs
GOAL STATEMENT
To provide administrative, staff, and financial support to the 17th Judicial Circuit in order to operate an effi-cient court system.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
Court programs, under the Court Administrator's direction, augment the court system in Broward County by providing auxiliary judicial functions and effective alternatives to court proceedings through diversion programs.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Per the Article V requirement, funding is continued in FY15 for a Juvenile Alternative Sanctions Coordinator. This position assists in preventing juveniles from entering into the crim-inal justice system, deters repeat offenses and continues court contact by coordinating and providing to the juvenile courts treatment alter-natives for pre and post adjudicatory juveniles
and their families. The position also coordinates and provides to families of at-risk children refer-rals to appropriate counseling and support services.
Funding is also provided in this section for the Article V mandated expenses in court reporting, court interpreting, and court mediation programs.
APPROPRIATIONS
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Total Dollars $84,590 $93,810 $99,330
Judicial Circuit/County Court
Section
Judiciary
GOAL STATEMENT
To provide administrative, staff, and financial support to the 17th Judicial Circuit in order to operate an effi-cient court system.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
The 17th Judicial Circuit is composed of 90 circuit and county court judges funded through the Florida State Courts System, 9.5 general magistrates who provide quasi-judicial functions and 2 child support hearing officers. Court Administration is the administrative support of the 17th Judicial Circuit and is responsible for operation and supervision of all court programs and support services under the court.
BUDGET COMMENTS:
In FY15, funding is provided for communication services and auxiliary aids and services for quali-fied individuals with a disability as mandated per Article V.
Funding is provided in FY15 for guardianship monitoring and background investigations. Probate Court contractual service expenditures are fully revenue supported by an investigation fee.
APPROPRIATIONS
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Judicial Legal Aid
Broward County, Florida - Fiscal Year 2015 Adopted Operating Budget 3–5 Division
Legal Aid
BUDGET COMMENTS
The total proposed budget for FY15 for Legal Aid is $1,153,400, of which $400,000 is funded by the addi-tional $65 court cost fee provided as part of the Article V legislation and the remainder is funded by the General Fund.
SECTION SUMMARY
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Legal Aid $463,200 $753,400 $753,400
Total $463,200 $753,400 $753,400
APPROPRIATIONS
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Operating Expenses $463,200 $753,400 $753,400
Judicial Public Defender
Division
Public Defender
BUDGET COMMENTS
As a result of State Article V legislation, the County retains responsibility for funding communication services, courier messenger and subpoena services for the Public Defender’s Office.
SECTION SUMMARY
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Public Defender $157,566 $169,760 $158,400
Total $157,566 $169,760 $158,400
APPROPRIATIONS
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Operating Expenses $157,566 $169,760 $158,400
Total $157,566 $169,760 $158,400
BUDGET VARIANCES
(11,360) Decrease in telephone costs based upon historical expenditures.
Judicial State Attorney
Broward County, Florida - Fiscal Year 2015 Adopted Operating Budget 3–7 Division
State Attorney
BUDGET COMMENTS
As a result of State Article V legislation, the County retains responsibility for funding communication services, courier messenger, subpoena services and special grand jury costs.
SECTION SUMMARY
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
State Attorney $330,734 $410,640 $405,780
Total $330,734 $410,640 $405,780
APPROPRIATIONS
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Operating Expenses $330,734 $410,640 $405,780
Total $330,734 $410,640 $405,780
BUDGET VARIANCES
(7,310) Decrease in telephone costs based upon historical expenditures.
2,450 Increase in communications device costs based upon historical expenditures.
Judicial Court Cost Fund
Division
Court Cost Fund
SECTION SUMMARY
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Court Administration Local Option Programs $451,600 $466,600 $400,000
Law Library $429,253 $466,600 $400,000
Legal Aid $451,600 $466,600 $400,000
Juvenile Intervention Programs $440,230 $466,600 $400,000
Court Administration Reserve $0 $1,248,200 $916,750
Court Administration One-Time Funding $88,403 $168,400 $211,750
Total $1,861,086 $3,283,000 $2,728,500
REVENUES
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Fee Assessment $1,839,148 $1,956,000 $1,684,400
Interest Earnings $7,847 $8,630 $5,600
Miscellaneous Revenue $1,054 $0 $0
Less Five Percent $0 ($98,230) ($84,500)
Fund Balance Forward $1,484,000 $1,416,600 $1,123,000
Total $3,332,049 $3,283,000 $2,728,500
APPROPRIATIONS
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Personal Services $858,191 $890,010 $897,520
Operating Expenses $831,664 $959,700 $797,270
Capital Outlay $171,231 $185,090 $116,960
Reserves $0 $1,248,200 $916,750
Total $1,861,086 $3,283,000 $2,728,500
Total Positions 17 17 17
BUDGET VARIANCES
(230,560) Decrease in operating expenses <$162,430> and capital outlay <$68,130> due to a projected decrease in Court Cost Fund revenues.
(331,450) Decrease in reserve due to a decrease in fund balance and revenues.
7,510 Normal Increases
7,510 Personal Services
Judicial Court Cost Fund
Broward County, Florida - Fiscal Year 2015 Adopted Operating Budget 3–9
BUDGET COMMENTS
In accordance with the authority granted by Section 939.185 Florida Statutes, the County Commission has authorized an additional court cost of $65, which shall be imposed by the court upon every person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or is found guilty of, any felony, misdemeanor, or criminal traffic offense under the laws of Florida effective July 1, 2004. Funds received from this additional court cost shall be distributed as follows in FY15:
25% is allocated to local option programs based on the Chief Judge’s requests - $192,020 for the Justice Alternatives Program which involves various mediation programs; $169,280 for the Domestic Violence Victim Assistance Program including four positions; $18,500 for various operating expenses for the Judges and Judicial Assistants section; $231,950 for various oper-ating expenses and four positions in Court Administration and the Felony and Misdemeanor Mental Health Court.
25% is allocated to fund personnel and legal materials for the public as part of a law library in Broward County. This revenue source is supple-mented by other law library revenues to provide a total budgeted amount of $1,242,250. Four positions are funded for this program.
25% is allocated to assist in providing Legal Aid programs in Broward County. This revenue source is supplemented by the general fund in order to provide a total budgeted amount of $1,153,400.
25% is allocated to support three positions to refer and monitor diverted juvenile cases in order to prevent them from being filed in the court ($168,470) and operating expenses at the Juve-nile Intervention Facility (JIF) at the request of the Broward Sheriff’s Office ($231,530). Continuation of enhancements funded with the court cost revenues is subject to actual revenues received in future years.
Judicial Judicial Technology Fee Fund
Division
Judicial Technology Fee Fund
SECTION SUMMARY
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Court Administration $2,842,521 $2,333,490 $2,396,920
Public Defender $846,587 $921,780 $992,520
State Attorney $1,459,667 $1,354,370 $1,354,370
Guardian ad Litem $9,524 $17,620 $9,120
Reserves $0 $1,535,750 $0
Total $5,158,299 $6,163,010 $4,752,930
REVENUES
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Recording Fees $3,287,644 $2,700,000 $2,625,800
Interest Earnings $45,798 $51,800 $24,320
Transfer from the General Fund $0 $0 $261,700
Less 5% $0 ($137,590) ($132,510)
Fund Balance Forward $6,558,000 $3,548,800 $1,973,620
Total $9,891,442 $6,163,010 $4,752,930
APPROPRIATIONS
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Personal Services $1,526,975 $1,628,490 $1,623,200
Operating Expenses $2,443,271 $2,859,740 $2,950,030
Capital Outlay $1,188,053 $139,030 $179,700
Reserves $0 $1,535,750 $0
Total $5,158,299 $6,163,010 $4,752,930
Judicial Judicial Technology Fee Fund
Broward County, Florida - Fiscal Year 2015 Adopted Operating Budget 3–11
BUDGET COMMENTS
In accordance with the authority granted by Section 28.24 Florida Statutes, an additional recording service charge of $4 per page has been imposed for each instrument listed in s. 28.222, except judgments received from the courts and notices lis pendens, recorded in the official records. From the additional $4 service charge collected, $2 shall be distributed to the Board of County Commissioners to be used exclusively to fund court-related technology needs for the state trial courts, state attorney and public defender.
In FY15, $2,396,920 is funded for Court Admin-istration to support 21 information technology positions, software and hardware maintenance, T-1 lines, software support, and new and replace-ment equipreplace-ment.
In FY15, $992,520 is funded for the Public Defender for 11 IT positions and software support.
In FY15, $1,354,370 is funded for the State Attorney for 5 IT positions, software support, data linkages and automation-related contractual services.
In FY15, $9,120 is funded for the Guardian ad Litem program for a T-1 line and equipment maintenance.
BUDGET VARIANCES
(17,170) Decrease in telephone costs based on actual costs.
158,200 Increase in operating expenses due to recurring e-filing costs. 103,500 Increase in capital expense due to computer server updates.
(65,830) Decrease in capital expense due to the one-time nature of the expenditure. (1,535,750) Decrease in reserves due to a decrease in fund balance.
(53,030) Normal Increases/Decreases
(5,290) Personal Services
(50,740) Operating Expenses
3,000 Capital Outlay
Judicial Teen Court Fee Fund
Division
Teen Court Fee Fund
BUDGET COMMENTS
In accordance with the authority granted by Section 938.19 Florida Statutes, the County Commission has authorized a $2 surcharge which will be imposed against each person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or is convicted of a violation of a criminal law or a municipal or county ordinance, or who pays a fine or civil penalty for any violation of Chapter 316 to fund the operation and administration of the teen court.
SECTION SUMMARY
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Teen Court $392,644 $1,329,670 $1,486,050
Total $392,644 $1,329,670 $1,486,050
REVENUES
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Charges For Services $517,175 $515,000 $485,400
Interest Earnings $7,123 $6,550 $5,500
Less 5% $0 ($26,080) ($24,550)
Fund Balance $616,000 $834,200 $1,019,700
Total $1,140,298 $1,329,670 $1,486,050
APPROPRIATIONS
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Personal Services $372,850 $487,810 $538,200
Operating Expenses $19,794 $61,620 $61,580
Reserves $0 $780,240 $886,270
Total $392,644 $1,329,670 $1,486,050
Total Positions 11 11 11
BUDGET VARIANCES
40,140 Increase in personal services to restore funding for one position that was held vacant to fund the Teen Traffic Court Magistrate Program in FY14.
106,030 Increase in reserve primarily due to an increase in fund balance.
10,210 Normal Increases/Decreases
10,250 Personal Services
(40) Operating Expense
Judicial Law Library
Broward County, Florida - Fiscal Year 2015 Adopted Operating Budget 3–13 Division
Law Library
BUDGET COMMENTS
The total proposed budget for the Law Library for FY15 is $1,242,250, of which $400,000 is budgeted in the Court Cost Special Purpose Fund. This $400,000 is supported with a $65 court cost fee provided as part of the Article V Legislation. The remainder is funded with the remaining revenues in this Special Purpose Fund.
SECTION SUMMARY
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Law Library $20,111 $747,890 $842,250
Total $20,111 $747,890 $842,250
REVENUES
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Law Library Memberships $9,695 $7,300 $6,540
Reproduction Sales $10,642 $10,000 $10,000
Interest Earnings $5,975 $6,300 $4,680
Miscellaneous Receipts $26,714 $22,500 $22,500
Less 5% $0 ($2,310) ($2,190)
Fund Balance Forward $774,000 $704,100 $800,720
Total $827,026 $747,890 $842,250
APPROPRIATIONS
FY13 Actual FY14 Budget FY15 Budget
Capital Outlay $20,111 $95,000 $95,000
Reserves $0 $652,890 $747,250
Total $20,111 $747,890 $842,250
BUDGET VARIANCES
94,360 Increase in reserves due to an increase in fund balance.